Curtain drier



R. H. HOYT.

CURTAIN DRIER.

APPLICATION. FILED JAN. I2, 9]8. 1,306,693. Patented June 17, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

4 7 @Q @Q cab 60 N l R. H. HOYT.

CURTAIN DRIER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12. 191B Patented June 17, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2 R. H. HOYT.

CURTAIN DRIER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12. was.

Patented June 17, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

M7 64 nvezz g 7 W 04161207 s @MW/M RICHARD HOYT, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

CURTAIN-DRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 12, 1918. Serial No. 211,649.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it-known that I, RICHARD H. Hon,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Curtain-Driers, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to a, drier which is more particularly designed for drying lace curtains on a commercial scale, as for instance in laundries where lace curtains are dried in large quantities for the trade and families.

It is the purpose of thi invention to provide a drier which is comparatively simple and inexpensive .in construction, which can be easily manipulated in applying the curtains to the machine as well as removing the same therefrom, which permits of efiiciently and economically drying curtains on one part of the machine while curtains are being removed and applied to another part thereof, and which is compact in construction and capable of drying large as well as small curtains with facility.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of my improved curtain drier. Fig. 2 1s a vertical transverse section thereof, on an enlarged scale, taken in line 22, Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the machine. Fig.

' 1 1s a fragmentary side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the upper part of the supporting drum and the curtain mounting dev ces arranged thereon. Fig. 5 is a detached side elevation, partly in section, showing one of the belts and associated parts for moving one of the transverse curtain supports lengthwise of the machine. Figs. 6, and 8 are vertical transverse sections taken in the correspondingly-numbered lines in Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is a detached perspective new of the movable transverse support which is adapted to receive one of the transverse edges of the curtain to be dried. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary top plan view of the locking mechanism for holding the support ing drum against rotation. Fi 11 is a side view of one form of stretching ar to which the curtain to be dried is attached. Fig. 12 is a cross section taken in line 1212, Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a fragmentary vertical section showing a modification of the means for packing the joint between the upper edge like parts throughout the several views.

In its general organization, this drying mac ine comprises a heating chamber which has an opening in'its top, and a rotary curtain supporting drum which is adapted to receive on different parts of its periphery a plurality of curtains and which may be turned so that a part of this drum is arranged within the heating chamber for drying thecurtains mounted thereon by exposing them to the heat within the drying chamber while another part of this drum i exposed through the opening in the top of the heating chamber so as to permit the operator to apply a curtain theretoor remove one therefrom.

This heating or drying chamber may be variously constructed but in the preferred form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the same comprises a horizontal bottom 1, two longitudinal side walls 2 rising from the bottom, two transverse end walls 3 connecting opposite ends of the side walls, the upper ed es of the side and end walls being separated so as to form an oblong rectangular opening at the top of the heating chamber. The upper parts 4 of the side walls of the heatlng chamber are preferably curved concentrically relatively to each other and to the axis of rotation of the supporting drum, and these walls are preferably provided on their outer sideswith air jackets 5 and on their inner sides with an asbestos lining 6O so as to reduce to a minimum the radiation of heat from the side of the drying chamber and also avoid discomfort to the operator while standing alongside of these longitudiheating chamber when attending to the machine. For the convenience of the operator, a platform 6 is preferably arranged adjacent to each side of the machine to stand on in case the machine is built on top the ordinary floor of a building, but if the lower part of the heating drum is let through the floor, then the regular floor may serve as the support upon which the operator may stand while running the machine.

Any suitable means may be provided for heating the interior of the drying chamber, those shown in the drawings comprising groups of pipes 7 arranged lengthwlse Patented June 17, 191%.

m1 walls and reaching over the top of the in the lower corners of this chamber and adapted to receive hot water, steam or any other appropriate heating medium.

The drum upon which the curtains to be dried are mounted is preferably of triangular form in cross section and provided with three equilateral side walls 8 which are tight or closed, two closed heads or end walls 9, a longitudinal shaft 10 arranged centrally between these side walls and passing through the end walls or heads, and.

intermediate braces 1.1, connecting the walls of the drum with said shaft. This drum is arranged within the heating chamber and its shaft extends through the end walls of the latter and is journaled in suitable bearings 12 ,outside thereof so that the drum turns concentrically with the side walls of the heating chamber. The width of each longitudinal wall of the supporting drum is nearly equal to the width of the opening in the top of the heating chamber and the distance from each corner of this drum to the center or axis of rotation of the drum is nearly equal to the radius of the curved side walls of the heating chamber. Upon rotating the drum within the heating chamber the corners thereof travel close to the inner sides of the curved walls of the chamber and each of the facets or outer surfaces of one of its longitudinal walls maybe in turn brought into a horizontal position at the top of the drum where the same is substantially horizontal and in line with the upper edges of the heating chamber, while the remaining facets or outer sides of the longitudinal walls of this drum are arranged within or projecting downwardly into the heating chamber.

On the outer side or facet each of the longitudinal walls of the drum is provided with means for mounting a curtain thereon so that two curtains may be successively exposed to the drying action of the heating medium within the drying chamber while the operator may remove a dried curtain and replace the same with an undried one on the exposed upper side or facet of the drum. In order to prevent the escape of an undue amount of heat from the drying chamber through the joints or spaces between the upper longitudinal edges of the side walls of the drying chamber and the longitudinal corners of the supporting drum, a packing is provided which, as shown in Fig. 2, may consist of flexible strips 13 secured lengthwise to the upper edges of the side walls of the drying chamber and engaging with the adjacent edges of the drum. As the latter is rotated in one direction or the other these flexible packing strips are deflected in one direction or the other and when the drum is brought to rest with one of its side walls or facets in a horizontal position these packing strips engage yieldingly with the corners of the drum and prevent the escape of the heating medium between these members. Instead of attaching the packing strips to the walls of the the several devices on the three sides of this drum are identical in construction, the following description of one will apply to all of them:

15, 16 represent the longitudinal bars and 17, 18, the transverse end bars of a rectangular supporting frame which is mounted on the outer side of each side wall of the drum, the dimensionsof this supporting frame being such that it is equal in length or substantially so to the drum but slightly narrower than the width of the respective side wall thereof, so as to permit this supporting frame to clear the inner side of the longitudinal walls of the heating chamber upon rotating the drum. On this supporting frame is mounted the mechanism to which the longitudinal and transverse edges of the curtain to be dried are attached and the curtain is stretched preparatory to turning the drum so as to bring the curtain into the heating chamber for drying the same. Although the means for this purpose may be varied, those shown in the drawings are preferred and constructed as follows:

19, 20 represent two longitudinal stretching bars which are arranged parallel within the supporting frame, and are adapted to have thelongitudinal edges of the curtain attached thereto and are movable transversely toward and from each other for the purpose of adapting these bars to the width of the curtain and also permit of easily attaching the curtain to, as well as removing the same therefrom, and to tighten or stretch the curtain preparatory to introducing the same into the heating chamber. These longitudinal stretching bars may be guided in their transverse movements by a variety of means, those shown in the drawings answering the-purpose and comprising three transverse guide rods 21 mounted on the supporting frame below the longitudinalstretohing bars, and three slides 22 secured to the underside of each longitudinal stretching bar and movable transversely on the guide rods 21, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 6. The preferred means for actuating the longitudinal stretcher bars toward and from each other which are shown in the drawings, comprise a plurality of shifting belts 23, preferably three in number, each of which is of the chain type and arranged below these stretching bars and has one of its parts or stretches which moves in one direction connected with a slide of one of the stretching bars while another part or stretch of this belt which moves in the opposite direction is connected with a slide 22 of the other stretching bar. The several shifting belts have their corresponding parts connected respectively with the two stretching barsso that upon moving these belts in one direction or the other, the two stretching bars will be caused to approach or recede from each other. These shifting belts are preferably operated by mounting corresponding ends thereof on guide sprocket wheels 24 which are pivotally mounted on brackets 25 arranged on the adjacent longitudinal side of the supporting frame while the opposite turns of these belts pass around shifting sprocket wheels 26 which are mounted on an operating shaft 62 journaled lengthwise in bearings 27 on the opposite longitudinal side of the supporting frame, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 7. Upon turning this shaft by means of a' handle or wrench applied to the front or outer end of the same, these belts may be operated for shifting the stretching bars toward and from each other, as required.

When applying the longitudinal edges of a curtain to the longitudinal stretching bars, the latter are preferably moved toward each other so that they are separated a distance which is less than the width of the curtain and thereby enable the latter to be easily attached to these bars. Thereafter these bars are moved apart the required extent by turningthe operating shaft until the curtain is properly stretched crosswise. The stretching bars are then retained in this position so as to. hold the curtain in place until it is dried by a clamping device which preferably consists of a screw 29 mounted on the supporting frame and engaging with the side of the operating shaft, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

By moving both the longitudinal stretching bars in a/direction transversely of the drum, the operator can reach these bars for attaching the curtain thereto with equal facility from either side of the drum. This is particularly advantageous in the case of ourtains which are comparatively narrow inasmuch as by this means the operator can mount the longitudinal edges of the curtain equally near to opposite longitudinal edges of the drum, which can be done without unduly reaching over the drum and experiencing discomfort in doing so as would be the case if. one longitudinal edge of the curtain were attached to some permanent line of fastening at one longitudinal edge of the drum and =curtain also to the drum.

The stretching of the curtains in the di rection of their length preparatory to drying the same may be efiected by attaching one end of the curtain to atransverse stretching bar 30 which is permanently fixed on the supporting frame adjacent to one transverse end thereof while the opposite transverse edge of the curtain may be attached to a longitudinally-movable transverse bar 31 mounted on the supporting frame adjacent to its opposite end., The last mentioned transverse stretching bar slides by means of carriages 32, 32 at its opposite ends on top of the longitudinal bars of the supporting frame and the same is shifted by means of two shifting belts 33 preferably of the chain type arranged along theinner sides of the side bars of the supporting frame. The inner turns of the longitudinal shifting belts pass around guide sprocket wheels 34 which are pivotally mounted on the supporting frame while the outer turns of these belts pass around actuating sprocket wheels 35 secured to a transverse shaft 36 which is j ournaled in bearings 37 on the inner side of the adjacent end of the supporting frame. This last mentioned shaft is adapted to be turned by means of a wrench or handle applied to the outer end of this shaft and the same may be held fixed by means of a clamping device consisting preferably of a sc'rew 39 arranged in a hearing 37 and adapted to engage with the outer side of the shaft 36, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. lVhen applying a curtain one of its transverse edges is first attached to the fixed transverse stretching bar 30 and then the other transverse edge of the same is attached to the other transverse stretching bar 31 while the latter is moved toward the fixed bar a distance less than the length of the curtain so as to facilitate this attachment. Thereafter the movable transverse stretching bar 31 is moved outwardly by turning the transverse shaft 36 in the proper direction and then the curtain is held in this stretched condition by tightening the clamping screw 39. 1

Each of the stretching bars 19, 20, 30, 31 above referred to, may be of any suitable construction to permit of the edges of the curtain being attached thereto quickly and easily, but in its preferred form, each of these bars, as shown in Figs. 9, 11 and 12 comprises a metal channel shaped body 40 having its concave or grooved side facing upwardly, a flexible attaching strip 41 of canvas or similar material, resting upon the bottom of the body, a reinforcing bar 60 resting on the outer edge of the attaching strip, and a plurality of lips or tongues 42 I struck out of the outer longitudinal flanges of this body and bent over the adjacent reinforcing bar, and a plurality of hook-shaped attaching pins 43 which are mounted on this strip and the points of which project in a direction opposite to the pull'which is to be exerted against the same. In applying a curtain 38 to these stretching bars, the curtain is pressed slightly against the points of these pins and then the companion bars are spread apart, whereby the curtain will be gripped tightly by these pins and drawn taut, so that it is reliably stretched preparatory to subjectin it to the drying action of the heat within t e drying chamber. When the upper edge of a lacecurtain is provided with a hem 44, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 9, the same, if desired, may be supported by a movable transverse stretching bar or rod 45 which is preferably constructed in the form of a, rod and is passed through the hem of the curtain. In order to permit of readily attaching such stretching rod to-the carriages 32, 32 or detaching the same therefrom, one of these carriages is provided with an eye 46 the opening of which is adapted to receive one end of the stretching rod 45 and the other carriage. is provided with an outwardly-facing hook 47 the mouth of which is adapted to receive the other end of this rod, as shown in Fig. 9. By this means this rod may be readily inserted or removed from the hem of the curtain and also quickly attached to and removed from the carriages 32. In order to prevent the stretcher rod 45 from moving lengthwise in the bearing eye 46 and bearing hook 47, this rod ,is provided with retainingpins 48 which engage with opposite sides of this hook and thereby prevent displacement of these parts relatively to each other. In this manner the upper edge of a curtain may be either attached to the movable part of the longitudinal stretching device by means of impaling hooks engaging with the fabric of the curtain, or by means of a rod passed through the hem of the curtain, if it has one, thereby permitting this machine to be used for drying curtains of either form.

It is desirable to provide means for reliably holding the drum against rotation while one of its sides is arranged uppermost and the operator is removing a curtain therefrom and applying a new curtain. For this purpose, a locking device is provided which is preferably constructed as follows: 49, 49 represent two horizontally-swinging locking levers which are pivoted on the upper edge of one of the end walls of the tubular drying chamber on opposite sides of the axis of the drum and its shaft and provided on their outer arms with inwardly projecting stop lugs 51 which are adapted to engage underneath a laterally pro ecting shoulder or flange 52 arranged on the adjacent end of the supporting drum, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 10. -Tl1e inner arms of these two locking levers are slidably connected by means of a screw 53 mounted on one of these arms and passing through a longitudinal slot 54 in the other arm. The inner arm of one of these levers is also provided with an extension 55 having a handle 56 whereby both of the locking levers may be operated simultaneously. Upon swinging this handle inwardly, the locking levers are both turned in the direction for moving their locking lugs outwardly from underneath the stop or looking flange of the drum and permitting the latter to be turned while upon moving the handle outwardly, these 80 levers are turned in a direction for engaging their locking lugs underneath this flange, thereby preventing the drum from turning and holding the curtain supporting mecha nism which at that time is uppermost, reliably in position so that the operator can work freely and quickly in removing a curtain from or applying the same to the drum.

As a whole, this machine is comparatively simple in construction considering the functions which it performs, the same can be very easily and quickly operated, and it permits of carrying on the operation of drying curtains andremoving finished curtains and replacing the same with unfinished ones practically continuously, so that there is no loss of time on the part of the operator, and thereby permits this work to be done at a minimum cost.

I claim as my invention:

1. A curtain drier comprising two parallel stretching bars to which opposite edges of-a curtain are adapted to be attached and an endless belt having oppositely moving parts one of which is connected with one 105 of said bars and the other one with the other bar.

2. A curtain drier comprising two parallel stretching bars to which opposite edges of a curtain are adapted to be attached, an 110 endless belt having oppositely moving parts one of which is connected with one of said bars and the other one with the other bar, and wheels around which the opposite turns of said belt pass.

3. A curtain drier comprising two parallel stretching bars to which opposite edges of a curtain are adapted to be attached, an endless belt having oppositely moving parts one of which is connected with one of said 120 bars and the other with the other bar, wheels around which the opposite turns of said belt pass, a bracket on which one of .said wheels is mounted, and a shaft on which the other one of said wheels is 125 mounted. v

4. A curtain drier comprising two parallel stretching bars to which opposite edges of a curtain are adapted to be attached, an endless belt having oppositely moving parts 180 one of which is connected with one of said bars and the other one with the other bar, guide rods arranged transversely of said stretching bars, and slides movable lengthwise on said guide rods and carrying said bars respectively.

5. A curtain drier comprising two parallel stretching bars to which opposite edges of a curtain are adapted to be attached, an endless belt having oppositely moving parts one of which is connected With one of said bars and the other one with the other bar, and clamping means for holding said belt in its tightened position.

6. A curtain drier comprising a stretching bar adapted to be inserted in the hem of a curtain and a carrier for supporting said bar comprising an eye which receives one end of said bar and a hook which receives the other end of said bar, said bar being provided with pins which are arranged on opposite sides of said hook for holding the bar against longitudinal movement.

7 A curtain drier comprising a stretching bar having a channel shaped body and attaching means consisting of a flexible strip arranged in said body and teeth arranged on said strip and adapted to engage with a curtain, said strip being retained in said channel by forming lips out of one flange of said channel and bending the same oyer said strip.

' RICHARD H. HOYT. 

